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Transport Canada enclosed vehicle deck safety regulation

Passengers on enclosed lower vehicle decks will be required to leave their vehicles during the sailing.

Important: The height, length and weight of your vehicle determines the vehicle deck on which you will be placed.

 

Booking ahead

If you are travelling on a bookable route, we strongly recommend that you book ahead if you plan to travel during popular sailing times, including:
 
  • Holiday weekends
  • Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings
  • Sunday afternoons
Booking in advance secures a spot for your vehicle on board your preferred sailing. Without a booking, vehicles are loaded in order of arrival at the terminal on the next available sailing. This may result in wait times at the departure terminal.

If you have booked online in advance, you need your booking reference number, or the phone number associated with your booking, to check in at the ticket booth.

 

Check-in times

Check-in times and ticket sales cut-off times vary by terminal.

Find and review the check-in and cut-off times at your departure terminal.
 
If you have a reservation:
  • Ensure that you arrive in time to redeem your reservation. Review terminal (and vehicle) specific check-in times at your departure terminal. Find your terminal now.
    • If you miss the terminal check in time for your sailing you will forfeit your reservation and be placed on the next available sailing based on your order of arrival at the terminal
 
If you do not have a reservation:
  • To make your preferred sailing without a reservation, review terminal specific ticket sales cut-off times at your departure terminal. Find your terminal now.
    • If you are in a lane queuing for the ticket booth,  but have not actually purchased a ticket from a ticket agent before the ticket sales cut-off time, you will be placed on the next available sailing based on your order of arrival at the terminal.

Checking in at the terminal

Terminals with ticket agents

When you arrive at the terminal, a ticket agent will greet you and get you checked in. The ticket agent will then assign you a vehicle lane to park until boarding starts. Please proceed to your assigned lane with caution.

Terminals without ticket agents
Park in the first available vehicle lane when you arrive at the terminal. You will be loaded on the next available sailing based on space on board. If a fare is due for travel on the route, it will be collected on board during the sailing.

Loading vehicles during extreme tide conditions


At some of our smaller terminals, vehicles with very low ground clearance or extended overhangs on the rear axle (e.g., buses, RVs, low-bed vehicles) may be asked to wait for a later sailing when the tide is extremely high or low to avoid damage to the vehicle, vessel and environment.

Note: Langdale, Horseshoe Bay and Campbell River terminals are particularly affected by tides.

Check tidal conditions before you travel.
 

Vehicles we carry

Accessibility

If you use a wheelchair or walking aid and need your vehicle to be close to the onboard elevator, view our accessibility page for boarding instructions.
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